A PAL for kids
By Krystle J Bailey
Behind every well-respected organization lies a team of people who make the magic happen. They fly under the radar, simply doing the work that needs to be done, often without the limelight or recognition they deserve. Without these unsung heroes, many of the companies and community organizations that have become local household names wouldn’t be possible.
Michelle Riordan of Egg Harbor Township is one of those special humans whose skills, passion, and expertise breathe life into several organizations in South Jersey, including the Atlantic County Toys for Kids program and the S.T.E.M. programs at EHT PAL.
The mother of three, originally from North Jersey, moved to Atlantic County in the 1980s, where she began her photography career and life as an entrepreneur. For the last thirty years, Michelle has been an integral part of the Atlantic County Toys for Kids program, working behind the scenes to plan events, distribute toys, and promote toy drives. From volunteering her talents as a photographer to her current position as the events coordinator, Michelle has devoted countless hours to bringing happiness and ease to local families.
While Michelle loves taking beautiful photos as a career photographer, it is the science behind photography and film that intrigues her the most. Her natural fascination for science, space, and engineering, combined with her children’s curiosity, led Michelle down a S.T.E.M.-inspired path in life.
Once building volcanoes at home with her children out of pure love for chemistry, Michelle is now the force behind the EHT PAL S.T.E.M. Expo, the Ventnor Solar System Walk, S.T.E.M. Camp, a Kid Wind Challenge Team, and so much more.
The titles behind Michelle Riordan’s name are seemingly endless, as her involvement in the S.T.E.M. world has continued to evolve over the years. She now serves as a NASA Solar System Ambassador, NASA Astrocamp Facilitator, Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Member, a Merit Badge Counselor for Scouts, NJ Aviation Education Council Member, South Jersey Stem Innovation Partnership Member, and South Jersey Astronomy Club Member.
As a NASA Solar System Ambassador, Michelle leads a weekly Star Gazer group where she teaches children about the night sky, how to identify planet and cloud patterns, and how to participate in research. Children are encouraged to stay up to date on news and research related to space exploration while learning about the intricacies of the solar system.
In partnership with Steve Jasiecki, Michelle created a half-mile solar system walk on the Ventnor Boardwalk where participants are invited to explore the solar system complete with planets, black holes, asteroid belts, and changes in the seasons. This interactive learning experience began in 2020 and will return to the Ventnor Boardwalk this spring.
Michelle is also responsible for leading a NASA ROADS Challenge team at PAL, where she teaches participants about robotics and drone flying, as well as a Kid Wind Challenge team, where children are invited to learn about wind turbines.
With renewable and coastal energy being the talk of the town, Michelle is leaning into her environmental science degree and partnering with ACIT and Rutgers Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve to spearhead a two-year ROV research mission off the South Jersey coast. High school students are invited to learn how to pilot the underwater ROV which PAL acquired in 2019. They will study how dredging is affecting the coastal environment and ecosystem and explore the research possibilities with ROVE 4K imaging.
“New technology keeps me excited,” explains Riordan. “We are in an age of a space exploration renaissance. There’s so much to learn.”
There is no end in sight for Michelle Riordan. In the midst of all of these roles, she is currently pursuing her Geographic Info Systems Certificate and is open to where life takes her next.
Right now, her focus is on delivering the best in S.T.E.M. research and experience to South Jersey by way of EHT PAL. The S.T.E.M. Expo will take place on Saturday, March 25, and will include dozens of opportunities for a hands-on S.T.E.M. experience.
For more information on the S.T.E.M. Expo, visit www.ehtpal.org.
Keep up with Michelle Riordan:
Instagram: MStella119
Twitter: M_RiordanPBE
For questions or more information, Michelle can be reached at Michelle.Riordan@ehtpal.org.
Krystle J Bailey is a multimedia journalist, author and poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
